This Life ? (J.C)

The interview went smoothly, despite Julian drinking and smoking through the whole thing. He wasn't just drinking beer either, he was sipping bourbon. Joy stood at the edge of the room, peeking ever so often outside on the balcony where he sat.

After the interview was over, Julian's drinking spiraled. She had tried to leave, telling him that she did her part in staying. But Jules wasn't having it. Everyone was doing their own thing—Nick had a girlfriend, Fab found himself involved with a particular hollywood starlet. Everyone seemed to be involved with someone, all except Julian. It was clear to Joy that he simply didn't want to be alone.

"Did you bring a swimsuit?" Julian scratched his head, leaning against the doorway of the balcony. He blew smoke from his lungs, placing the cigarette between his lips again as he slinked out  of his blazer.

"A bathing suit? Of course I did, we're in LA." She laughed. She watched as Julian tossed his black blazer onto the bed next to her, unbuttoning his white shirt with a cigarette clasped between his lips—his eyes squinting as smoke waft up his face.

"Go get it." Julian said, his hands stopping at the forth button of his shirt, exposing the top of his chest.

Joy scoffed. "Wh- why?"

"Because there's a pool downstairs and I wanna swim... duh." Julian snapped back, raising his hands in defeat.

"The pool closes at ten... It's eleven thirty. Also, my bedtime." She pursed her lips, standing from the bed.

Julian clasped the cigarette between his fingers, waving the lit fag toward the door. "Go- go get your bathing suit. Jus- just do it. Don't be such a killjoy, Joy." Jules strained.

"We go down there, we're gonna get in trouble. Or just get told to leave."

"Well, then so be it. Worth a shot, right?" Jules spoke low—nearly an inaudible grumble.

She closed her eyes with a heavy sigh. "Why are you doing this to me? Ryan could be your swim buddy right now."

"Because I'd rather look at you in a bikini than Ryan in trunks." He smirked, taking another drag of his cigarette. "The worst that can happen is that we're told to leave. I wanna do something, I'm sick of being stuck in here all fucking night. This- this is my life. Show, room, show, room... I gotta do something."

Joy thought about reminding him of a bar, but she didn't want to give him any ideas. Jules was already drunk, he didn't need any fuel to that particular fire.

"Fine." 

•••

She emerged from the bathroom, having to dress in a separate room. Jules refused to wait in the hall, claiming she'd change her mind if he weren't present.
He's probably right about that.

She wore a simple red bikini, sure to wear a pair of cut off jeans for some coverage. Julian's eyes narrowed slightly, leaning forward on the edge of the bed.

"First time I've ever seen you in shorts. Nice legs." He winked.

"It's nothing you've never seen before." Joy rolled her eyes, tucking two towels under her arm.

"And is that a tattoo?... Lemme see." Julian waved her over, his shirt still unbuttoned, revealing his hairless sternum.

Her brows meshed confusingly; she had forgotten all about the tattoo on her arm. She obliged unwillingly, holding out her arm for Julian to observe.

"When'd you get this?" He asked, stroking the pad of his thumb along the permanent ink.

"Um... last year, I think?"

"Why do you still wear long sleeves? You can't even tell you tried to kill yourself anymore." Julian spoke without a filter—alcohol seemed to do that to him.

"I don't know... I don't really like the tattoo." She shrugged.

"What about your legs?" Jules moved his hands to her thighs, brushing his fingertips along the raised marks. "It's barely noticeable now. Why not wear shorts more often- show off what you got?" He snickered as she jumped back away from his touch.

"We going, or what?"

"I don't know... do you want to? Or do you wanna just," Julian grabbed Joy's wrists, leaning back in the bed. "Lay here with me for a little while?" He snickered drunkenly as Joy tried getting off his lap.

"C'mon, let's go." She moved off of his waist. Although straddling Julian's lap seemed like a better alternative than him unexpectedly drowning in a hotel pool in his inebriated state.

"Why a staff? What are the notes from, lemme see it again." Julian grabbed Joy's wrist again, observing the tattoo covering the scar she wished she didn't remember. She stared at the top of his head; she could see a line from his parted tresses revealing his scalp.

"Guess- read it and see if you can-"

"Beethoven symphony six... really?" Julian's head raised, his usually vacant eyes narrowing at her with a smile.

"How did you-" she stopped, drawing her arm back. "How did you know that?" She couldn't help but to laugh.

"I didn't drop nearly fifty grand on a music education for nothing." Jules winked. "I'm a Beethoven fan... Mozart was too... meticulous."

"Kinda like you?" Joy shot back.

"Hey, I'll take it. I like him too... he was one of the greats." Julian spoke; his elbows back in the bed supporting his weight.

Silence fell over the pair—their eyes staring a little too long. Joy averted her gaze, clearing her throat. "So- swimsuit... Where's yours?"

Julian sat up, waving his hands down the length of his front. "You're looking at it."